NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is on its way to asteroid Bennu on a sample return mission. What questions are mission scientists hoping to answer? Who gets to play with the space dirt? Why was Bennu chosen? Will we need Bruce Willis to blow it up? Learn the answers to these questions and more!

Dr. Michele Mosca, Quantum Information Scientist Quantum theory rewrote the rulebook for physics over a century ago. We have since moved from being curious spectators of the quantum realm to active participants, intricately choreographing quantum effects to achieve specific objectives. We harness quantum effects for precise measurement, more powerful computation, more secure communication, and many more applications yet to be discovered.

In honour of Science Literacy Week, the McMaster Space Initiative Science Café is a night of learning filled with talks from local scientists in the McMaster community

A general presentation about the vastness of the Universe as well as about the DRAA will be followed by stargazing. The Crescent Moon, Saturn as well as other celestial objects will be observable (weather permitting).

The first exoplanet was found orbiting a Sun-like star in 1995. In the intervening 20 years, thousands of exoplanets and exoplanetary candidates have been detected suggesting that exoplanets are very common. That of course does not imply the Earth-like planets are common but again, recent statistics suggest that at least one star in 6 contains an Earth-like planet. With the detection of an exoplanet in the Habitable Zone of Proxima Centauri b, speculation and excitement has been aroused about the possibility of exploring that planetary system during the 21 st century.

Professor Yanqin Wu investigates the formation and evolution of planets, both inside and outside our own Solar System. Her current attention is devoted to a recently discovered puzzle, the presence of planetary systems around white dwarf stars, stars that have lived through their lives and are cooling off quietly in their cemeteries. The observational evidence is difficult to square with our current knowledge about the extra-solar planetary systems, and perhaps a new picture is required.

Acclaimed SF author Robert J. Sawyer discusses the writer's life and craft.

What would the Solar System look like today if we turned back time and started again? What would life be like if Jesus Christ never existed? These are just a couple of questions that can be answered using Chaos Theory, a fascinating process pervading all facets of the universe from galactic evolution to financial markets. Chaos Theory can be difficult to grasp since it operates on complex systems, but in this lecture Ari Silburt will explain it in simple terms anyone can understand, giving numerous astronomical and everyday examples.

The Chamber Music Society of Mississauga (CMSM) presents “Our Night Sky,” on Saturday, September 10 at 11am at Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga. “Our Night Sky” is a new show for young audiences of all ages created and performed by CMSM. This is a free admission performance.

Our life on Earth, and the Earth itself, are products of cosmic events that happened long ago and far away, but are still on display in the night sky. How are the ingredients of life and the environments for life being made? Is the Earth special or typical? Is our Universe especially good at making life? Who else might be circling one of the stars in our sky?